Sunday, May 31, 2009

After a very long day yesterday, we slept in a bit and headed to the stables mid-morning. Lessons and other boarders were wrapping up but still active so we decided to take the opportunity to do more ground work.

Only one of the two (2) guests at the house headed out to the stables with us....the granddaughter decided to take it easy in the air conditioned/multiple HD TV house (not to say I can blame her - the heat index was 95degrees + by the time we got around to heading to the stables).

Gary lunged LBR and it went well. Due to the heat, we headed to the main barn for a bath and grazing in the common area.

The picture in this post is our guest who had never seen/touched a horse before. LBR treated him like the perfect host and I think they both enjoyed each other's company.

We ended with a walk back to the paddock (stubbornly on LBR's part until Cindy popped him "magically" with the lead rope on the butt), through the paddock and back to the gate for treats.

Our granddaughter and a friend are in from Arkansas for post-graduation vacation. We took them over to the stables to introduce them to LBR.

Neither of them a "horse people", but because LBR has been a bit fiesty lately, we needed to go over for some lunging.

We groomed LBR in the roundpen and Gary worked him at the walk/trot/canter both directions. LBR got a bit "spunky" when cantering (hopping and kicking at least once each time). All we can figure is he's feeling much better (supplements) and is also starting to get in shape. If/when he takes the incorrect lead at the canter or starts with a cross-canter, he performs flying lead changes to correct.

Our grandaughter's friend had never seen/touched a horse and studied the training lesson. He thought it was pretty amazing that a horse could be so responsive/trained. He also "warmed" up to LBR.

Friday, May 29, 2009

We headed to the stables with the plan of "back to groundwork". We added supplements to LBR's feed and think he is starting to "feel his oats". He's been more distracted the last few nights and looking for excuses to be spunky.

When we arrived, the stables were quite busy with lessons and boarders. We led LBR from his paddock directly to the roundpen for grooming. Gary lunged him (in halter only) and although a bit stubborn (not wanting to go in the counterclockwise direction), LBR did pretty well.

LBR kept his inside ear turned and listened to Gary's commands. However, we now have a spunky horse on our hand. When asked to trot, LBR once took to the canter.

When asked to canter, he "play" bucked and kicked but continued on. LBR actually seemed to be letting of some steam and having fun. After his "canter/kick", he would come to a nice whoa or walk. When LBRwhoa'd, he immediately went into mellow mode.

We ended with grooming in the round pen, a cooling-off walk around the practice arena and treats at the gate.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

We headed to the stables expecting a quiet night as there are no lessons on Wednesday nights. We were quite surprised to find several boarders there and a lot of activity.

We groomed/tacked up and headed to the round pen as it had been five (5) days since our last ride. LBR was easily distracted in the round pen and didn't like the "crusty"path near the rail. We rode there (Gary & Cindy) and he got a little better.

Gary wanted to ride in the main arena. LBR continued to be a bit "distracted/hot" but handled fairly well for Gary. Cindy decided to ride in the main arena for a bit and LBR continued to be a little unruly. He was very distracted by the dogs, people and other horse in the arena. The thing that pushed him over the top was a boarder's horse that had been turned loose to graze in the common area.

This horse began running through the common areas, kicking and bucking. LBR decided he wanted to join in the fun and took off at a hot trot without being asked. Rather than try and force him to stop, Cindy used the forward motion to do some nice circles and LBR calmed down and came to a nice whoa (with the aid of the corner of the arena).

Cindy walked him for a bit more in the arena and practiced some whoa's and then we headed to the grooming stall to take of the bridle/saddle and groom. LBR was still a bit excited, but stood nicely.

We ended the night with the typical walk to/through the paddock for a drink and some treats.

Tomorrow we will be doing ground work in the roundpen....getting LBR back on his normal routine.

Monday, May 25, 2009

We headed over to the stables mid-morning. We had about 2" of rain overnight and LBR took full advantage of the opportunity to roll in the mud.

He got a new neighbor in the adjoining paddock today as Gary was haltering him up to head to the grooming stalls. LBR whinnied repeatedly on the way from the paddock and continued to call to his new neighbor throughout grooming (Cindy's ears are ringing).

It took a while, but we were able to get all the mud off without a bath today (it was too muddy in his paddock to waste the water bathing...he would have just rolled again after we left). There was no sign of the stalker today but beause it is a holiday, there were many other boarders grooming their horses.

Due to the muddy conditions, we chose not to ride today and took the opportunity to reinforce some ground work. We led LBR in the practice arena and he walked over the solid log jumps without any hesitation (first time he would do this). Ground poles were "old" and posed no issues as well.

After about 20 minutes of lead work, we took LBR to the common area for some grazing. There were several other boarders there letting their horses graze as well. LBR ignored them as his entire/total focus was on eating the fresh grass. As he has been a little difficult to lead away from this area, Gary took him down the road in the opposite direction and around several other barns. LBR behaved well and didn't realize he was leaving this green pasture:-)

We headed to the paddock, led/drank water and then enjoyed watching him eat his treats from his bucket.

He headed back to the center of the paddock and a fresh round bale of hay. He made Romeo leave the preferred hay spot by pinning his ears (he's so bossy).

We headed to the stables in the late morning expecting to find a muddy horse, roundpen and arena as we had at least 1" of rain at the house on Saturday.

Much to our surprise, the stables which are only about 5 miles from the house appeared to have sprinkles at most. LBR was clean and the roundpen and arena were dry.

We changed the order of things today. Started by leading LBR to the main barn for grooming. He entered his grooming stall perfectly, but the "stalker" popped out of a doorway and he spooked a bit. LBR really doesn't like the stalker as it operates in stealth mode appearing from behind walls, doorways, etc. and then sit/stands nearby and stares at him.

After grooming, we led LBR out to the common area behind the main barn for some grazing. He was very happy to have the fresh bermuda grass.

We headed back to the grooming stall and put on his saddle/bridle for a ride in the round pen. LBR responded nicely and Cindy's posting is getting better (she rode him at a nice steady trot for about 4 laps clockwise and about 3 laps counterclockwise). LBR'swhoa's are getting much better - only taking 2-3 steps from the walk to whoa.

Gary rode for a bit and when LBR's stubborn ("I don't want to turn") streak came out, Gary corrected him perfectly (no getting his bluff over on us:-). LBR doesn't seem to like it when the weather is changing (there were storms far off in the distance and a cool wind kicked up after a bit).

There were a couple of horses being worked in the main arena that were a bit rowdy so we decided to skip that today. They aren't untrained - just unworked and a bit hot.

We ended with grooming, lead back to/through the paddock and some treats.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Today Gary & Cindy headed to Kerrville, TX for the folk festival so they didn't visit LBR. It rained in Central Texas so they're expecting to find a muddy LBR tomorrow. Oh well, we need the rain and bathing a horse is a one of the few under appreciated joys in life.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Yeah....it's Friday and this is a three (3) day weekend. Cindy's paddock boots came in the mail tonight and fit perfectly.

It was quiet at the stables tonight. The stable owner and one other boarder were saddling up horses. Gary led LBR from the paddock to the grooming stall and we groomed/tacked up for a ride in the round pen.

LBR was unbelievable tonight. Turning with the slightest leg/rein pressure and moving out nicely. Cindy mostly walked but did do a few laps at the trot. LBR is starting to trot a little bit more evenly with a rider and Cindy is getting her riding legs and posting much more smoothly.

LBR also whoa'd within a couple of steps and didn't chew/pull at the bit.

We did have a schooling pad under his fleece saddle pad and think this may be the trigger to a good ride.

Because LBR was doing so well, we decided to head to the main jumping arena. There was one horse being ridden in there so tonight was a new experience. LBR was perfect!!!! The one time the other horse came cantering by, Cindy halted LBR and he stood perfectly.

Cindy walked him over a low jump and LBR was so lazy he knocked a rail down. He didn't flinch/freak at all. Cindy rode him around and then back over the same jump and he didn't care at all.

We ended with grooming, walk back to/through the paddock, a long drink of water and some treats.

Tonight was extremely busy at the stables as there is both a 5:30 & 6:30 group lessons. LBR behaved well in the barn for grooming.

We headed to the round pen for a ride and he seemed more distracted (not hot) than usual. He was "stiff" for turns and didn't want to move out. We kept the lesson fairly short (we both rode for about 10 minutes). He did "whoa" better than previous rides and we attributed that to ground "whoas" we did prior to riding.

When we de-tacked, we noticed that due to the lack of schooling pad, he was "hotter" under the fleece pad than usual....maybe this is why he didn't respond as well?

We ended with the usual....walk to/through the paddock, drink of water (he didn't want it tonight) and then treats back at the gate.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Tonight we led from the paddock, groomed and headed to the roundpen for a ride. LBR was very "mellow" tonight.

He responded well to very light rein and leg pressure. Both Gary and Cindy rode. Cindy worked LBR a little more at the trot and is getting a sense of his trot rhythm and able to post better.

After the roundpen workout (about 20 minutes), we led LBR to the main jumping arena for a ride. Cindy mounted using the mounting blocks instead of the "leg up" jockey method and LBR stood nicely. She rode LBR around the perimeter of the arena and he seemd to be 'showing' off - very attentive and interested.

Cindy rode him over many ground poles, between jumps, and around jumps and LBR responded perfectly (though his "whoa's" still need a bit of work).

After about 15 minutes in the main arena, we headed to the barn for de-tacking, grooming and then back to/through the paddock ending with some treats at the gate.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Tuesdays are very active at the stables and this one was particularly so as there was a horse being shod in the stables (custom shoes being created/grinded with power tools).

We brought LBR from his paddock and based on yesterday’s “attitude” we didn’t know how well this was going to go. In addition to the farrier, the Tuesday lesson group was tacking up in the barn as well.

Much to our surprise, the evil-spirit that had inhabited LBR the previous day was gone. He led perfectly into the barn/grooming stall and stood quietly for grooming and tacking up.

Rather than starting with ground work, we simply led LBR around the roundpen a few times and as he seemed very calm, Cindy hopped aboard.

LBR was WONDERFUL…turning with the slightest leg/rein pressure. Cindy trotted him a bit. LBR has a very springy trot in the roundpen and Cindy’s seat is still not quiet back so posting was a little spastic but LBR was trotting perfectly on the rail

We switched riders and Gary hopped on. He hasn’t ridden LBR in a few visits and was amazed at the progress LBR has made with his turns.

We headed back to the barn for grooming/de-tacking and LBR stood perfectly with one cross tie despite a lot of commotion in the barn (end of lessons, barking dogs, loud talkers).

Tonight was the first time in three (3) days that we were able to “work” LBR due to the rain. We took him from the paddock to the main barn for grooming and he was not his usual agreeable self (just a little stubborn).

We groomed/saddled/bridled and headed to the round pen for some ground work. He continued his stubborn streak – not wanting to lunge, not attentive. Gary raised the lunge whip when LBR refused to trot and he broke into a canter…what a little terror.

He calmed down a bit and Cindy rode for a while, but instead of behaving nicely, he continued to behave in an “off” manner. Rather than get frustrated, she just worked him a bit in figure eights and kept the ride brief.

We ended with de-tacking, grooming, leading to/through the paddock and finished off with some treats at the gate. He was so obstinate tonight that when led through the paddock to the water trough, he didn’t even play/drink in the water.

Monday, May 18, 2009

We headed over to the stables knowing that we were not going to be able to ride. We expected to find LBR coated in mud and he did not disappoint us.

We took him down to the grooming stables to try and curry off the mud. It was too thick (> 1" in places) and too dry to brush off. We had to bath him to remove the mud which we wasn't to keen on (wanted to eat grass rather than stand and be bathed).

We finished the bath despite his protests and then allowed him to graze on the lead while he dried.

Afterwards, we headed back to the grooming stall for hoof cleaning, fly repellent and "manners".

We led him back to his paddock (uneventful) and fed him some treats.

It was almost dinner time, so we think his "stubbornness" was more out of desire for dinner than anything else tonight.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

It rained in Central Texas today (almost 2" in Manor). We received a text message on our cell phone: "Mud Rolling party at the stables. RSVP, LBR".

We decided to skip the stables until tomorrow and headed over to the expo center to cheer on the stables at a local show. We stayed for a couple of hours and then headed home to listen to the rain and watch the Preakness....Girls Rule:-)

The weather prediction for tomorrow is cooler temperatures and sun so we'll head over in the afternoon when it's has warmed up as we feel pretty confident that the mud rolling party was a blast and LBR will need a bath.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Gary went to the stables this morning to make sure LBR was eating his food with the supplement added. LBR had finished eating already so Gary visited with the caretaker, Jim. Jim says LBR is eating well and they've increased his feed this week. He's not extremely thin, but has seemed to drop a bit of weight.

In the evening we headed over for a ride. We decided to try a different snaffle tonight to see if LBR would respond better (stop leaning on the bit). We switched from an egg-butt snaffle to a d-ring snaffle with copper and stainless rollers. It made a HUGE difference.

Cindy rode LBR in the round pen and he responded beautifully to the slightest "pinkie" pressure for a lot of turns/circles/figure eights and s-pattern. His disposition was entirely different. When he did lean on the bit (very lightly) he discovered the rollers and seemed to like them.

We attribute most of this to the new bit, but also have to realize that this was our 4th ride and he may just be starting to understand what we want him to do.

We ended with grooming and back to/through the paddock before treats at the gate. This weekend (depending on weather) we hope to ride at the walk in the main arena to alleviate LBR's boredom with the roundpen.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

We did the usual...led LBR from his paddock to the grooming stall for grooming and tacking up. It was funny tonight, the walkway before the barn had been re-aslphalted (verb?) and was pitch black. LBR didn't want to cross it and instead of battle/force, we kicked some dust over it and he was just fine:-)

We worked for a short bit lunging in the roundpen and then Gary hopped aboard. LBR & Gary did well as they're both learning together.

LBR seemed easily bored so when Cindy rode, she did a lot of figure eights instead of "rail work".

Psycho horse was out tonight but that's a non-event:-)

We headed back to the main barn, groomed (LBR is so relaxed he lets his "stuff" dangle as we post-workout groom), and then back to the paddock for a walk to the water trough for a drink and back to the gate for treats.

We headed to the stables with saddle/bridle. The Tuesday lesson group was active in the main arena.

We groomed and saddled and headed to the round pen for a ride. We started with LBR with a short bit of lunging and then Cindy rode.

It was an uneventful ride for a while until one of the foals "escaped" from it's paddock into a neighboring paddock (both adjacent to the round pen). About the same time, one of the girls from the lesson group was riding by to cool off her horse. All of the sudden the horses and foal in the adjoining paddock starting racing around the paddock making a raucous.

LBR handled it all well considering. Cindy turned him in the roundpen to watch and although he became a bit "hot", he just stood and watch with his head high up in the air.

LBR calmed down as soon as the foal returned to it's paddock and the horses stopped being frisky.

We're so luck that his instinct is to stop-and-watch instead of run away.

We ended the night with untacking, grooming, a walk back through the paddock and treats.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The stables were quiet when we arrived (no other boarders there). We took LBR from the paddock to the grooming stall for grooming/saddling/bridle. As we were tacking up, psycho horses owner arrived.

We decided to head to the roundpen not knowing if we would be just lunging or riding as if psycho-horse was turned loose, he would be too much of a distraction running frantically throughout the common areas. Fortunately, psycho-horse had a training session far off in the jumping arena so we were able to ride.

We lunged briefly at the walk/trot. LBR was a bit distracted (there was a thunderstorm far off in the eastern sky). We put down a ground pole to regain his focus - it worked very well.

Cindy rode at the walk for about 20 minutes and LBR was perfectly behaved (still leaning on the bit however a tap on the rump seems to stop this). He crowded the rail and the stirrup iron hit it making a loud metal-on-metal bang. LBR didn't care a bit about this noise (YEAH!!!).

We ended the night with grooming. On the way back to the barn a few sprinkles fell and LBR thought he was once again getting attacked by acid rain (go figure - a horse that LOVES the mud hates the rain).

Monday, May 11, 2009

Today (Sunday) we headed to the stables early in the afternoon. It was a warm/humid day but as we had plans in the evening, we decided to deal with the heat.

We took LBR from his paddock down to the barn/grooming stables. He was quiet and well-behaved for grooming and saddling so we decided this was going to be the first ride day.

Saddled and headed to the round pen for putting on the bridle. We briefly did lunging at the walk/trot (about 3 laps at each gait in each direction).

Cindy then took the first ride. LBR did very well. He pulled a bit at the bridle but doing some figure eights rather than just staying on the rail seemed to perk his interest away from the annoying race-horse pulling. Cindy worked him mostly at the walk with a bit of trot in one direction. Cindy was amazed at how tall 16.3 hands really is....sitting above the top rail of the roundpen is a little strange and dismounting includes a drop of nearly 2 feet at the end.

Gary rode LBR for a while at the walk in both directions and LBR continued to be well behaved. After about 30 minutes total, we headed back to the stables (Gary leading with the bridle instead of the halter) and LBR was extremely calm and quiet.

We took off the saddle/bridle and gave him a quick rinse off. Afterwards, we let him graze in the common area pasture until he dried, groomed his hooves in the grooming rack and then headed back to the paddock for the typical walk through to the water trough and treats at the gate.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

The saddle we bought came with leathers and a girth. Unfortunately, the girth was too short so we headed to a local tack shop to purchase a longer girth and a set of irons (stirrups) before heading to the stables.

We brought LBR into the barn for grooming and put his saddle on for the roundpen work. He worked very well with saddle and bridle. It was a very warm day in Central Texas so after LBR's workout, we gave him a cooling bath/rinse.

We let him graze in the common area until he dried and then returned him to his pasture where we led to the water and treated afterwards at the paddock gate.

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Tonight, we worked in the roundpen with the bridle on. LBR seems to know this means "business" and had a great workout. It's getting warm in Central Texas (heat index > 100 tonight) but the wind is showing no signs of stopping (gusts > 25 mph).

We headed to the jumping arena and led LBR over some low jumps and then into the barn for some grooming.

He looked out the window before turning around in the grooming stall and saw a bicycle parked outside and FREAKED out. All we can figure is the handle bars were horns. We calmed him down with quiet reassurance and got him into the grooming stall. He slowly calmed down to the near-sleep level and grooming went well.

We headed back to the paddock for more "routine"...led to the water trough and he took his bio-break 2/3rds of the way, drank for a while and we ended back at the gate with alfalfa cube treats.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

We headed to the stables with bridle in tow as LBR seemed to train well with it yesterday. We got a late start so we altered our activities a bit.

LBR met us at the gate and we headed to the round pen. We groomed and put on his bridle and shin splints. We led him for a bit with the reins (not really using the reins).

We started with our typical walk/trot/whoa lunging and because LBR was responding so well, we tried the canter. LBR took up the canter on queue.

Tonight's breakthrough was going back down to the trot and then the walk without being hot (accomplished these transitions within 1/2 circle of the round pen).

We think he was showing off as some of the girls who had finished their lessons were cooling down their horses in the common area around the round pen.

He got comments on how well he was doing and what a handsome horse he was......he seemed to know he was being complimented.

We ended with the walk through the paddock, a brief "potty stop" (now 4 nights in a row he stops at the same point for this bio-break), a drink of water and back to the gate for some alfalfa cube treats.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Tonight we headed to the stables with bridle and saddle. We pre-groomed LBR in the roundpen and put on his bridle (with an egg-butt snaffle).

We walked him around the roundpen for a bit and decided to lunge him in his bridle. He actually worked better and was more focused than with the halter.

We replaced the bridle with the halter and headed to the grooming stall to try on the saddle. He was again well behaved. With the saddle on LBR, we led him in the jumping arena and had a perfectly behaved horse.

We ended the night with a walk to/through the paddock and YEAH!!!! some alfalfa cubes.

If all continues on this track.....we'll be riding next week in the roundpen.

As we were headed to the stables, UPS delivered the saddle we bought on eBay. It was exactly as described and we were excited.

We had plans for a typical pre-groom, roundpen, grooming stall and jumping arena workout and stuck to it.

LBR worked nicely in the roundpen with ground poles, but seemed bored easily after cantering without them.

We headed to the grooming stables and there was a lot of activity. LBR seemed a bit excited until all the loud-talking humans left (he must be sensing Cindy's frustration with that).

We headed back to the paddock and crazy-horse-owner were out loose. Fortunately, the stable owner was around and moving some of her horses and asked that the horse be caught and contained. LBR seemed to take it all in stride though crazy-horse ran around for a while in the common areas.

We left LBR in his paddock (not too happy as there were not alfalfa treats to give).

Monday, May 4, 2009

We headed downtown today to enjoy one of Austin's spring traditions - Pecan St. Festival. After a few hours there, we went to visit/work LBR.

He continues to meet us at the gate regardless of what time we arrive. We did our standard grooming and roundpen work and LBR did very well. He really seems to enjoy the initial rounds with ground rails and then cantering without them. We remove them and ask for some walk/trot and he seems very bored (not staying on the rail).

We headed to the jumping arena for some work and then the grooming stalls and he was well behaved. We took the camera tonight with us. We've attached some new pictures. Please don't worry about him being "thin". His muscle mass has increased greatly and we're "upping" the feed a bit due to his increased training.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

We made a trip to the general store to purchase some mane/tail detangler and headed to the stables in the early afternoon.

It was pretty warm/sunny (upper 80's) in Central Texas today. LBR was in the shade in his shelter. He met us at the gate.

We headed to the roundpen for quick grooming and a work out. LBR worked nicely in the counterclockwise direction (walk/trot/canter). Going clockwise, he showed us that he does have some athletic ability. He went into the canter easily, but took the wrong lead. Before we could bring him back to the trot, he performed a PERFECT flying lead change and continued nicely.

After about 30 minutes in the roundpen, we headed to the main barn for LBR's first bath.

Because the inside wash racks are a bit small/dark, we decided to wash him outdoors. He behaved very well for the event. After we bathed/rinsed/combed, we let him graze for about an hour in his favorite area.

We headed back to the paddock, led to the water trough and then gave him a few alfalfa cubes before heading home.

Saturday, May 2, 2009

We arrived a little later than usual tonight (around 7:00 p.m.) and though there were several boarders there, they were all wrapping up and heading out.

LBR met us at the gate again...this is so sweet:-). We headed to the roundpen for grooming and work. LBR was AMAZING. We worked him both directions and for the first time....we got the correct (right) lead clockwise without cross-canter. He really anticipates being able to canter after warming up slowly at the walk trot. LBR has become very calm with this routine. He trots smoothly and is very flexible (he had an "itch" tonight and calmly trotted on the wall as he scratched his side with his teeth).

We headed to an empty barn to groom and LBR seemed to miss the activity. We cross tied for a bit as we groomed and he was well behaved. The only issue tonight was he kept looking for his "buddies" - not in a bad way, but we could tell he was curious as to why there were no other horses being groomed.

The equine eating feline friend joined us in the grooming stall (jumped up on the dividing wall) and LBR gave him a nuzzle (too bad I didn't have the camera).

After grooming, we let LBR graze behind the barn for about 30 minutes before leading him to his paddock. This area has a great stand of bermuda grass and he enjoyed it.

After tonight's activity, we reflected that since LBR joined our family, he's never bucked/reared/kicked. We're amazed that the OTTB's get the reputation for being "hot". We agree if someone says stubborn - but this one is definitely not "hot" (he literally fell asleep tonight with eyes closed while we were grooming).

Tonight the stables were very active. There are now two (2) sets of lessons each Thursday (5:30 p.m. & 6:30 p.m.).

LBR met us at the paddock gate and we led to the roundpen for grooming and work. He was amazingly responsive. Working both directions and responding to verbal commands on the first attempt. He walked/trotted/whoa'd both directions perfectly and cantered counterclockwise nicely/calmly (we didn't attempt clockwise as we wanted to keep it positive tonight).

We headed to the "packed" grooming area and LBR behaved well with horses in both adjacent grooming stalls.

We ended with leading back to the paddock w/out incident. His round-hay-bale rack had been moved so he will be getting fresh hay in the next couple of days.